Spray-burner.



C. V. STUART.

SPRAY BURNER. APPLICATION FILED MAII.20. |914.

Patented Dec. 14, 191,5.

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CHARLES V. STUART, 0F iMEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO STUART AMERICAN PRODUCTS COMPANY, 0F MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE.

SPRAY-BURNER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. ML, l9ll5.

Application led Mariah 20, 1914. Y Serial No. 825,975.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES V. STUART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis,v in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain vnew and useful- Improvements in Spray-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to a spray burner, and providesV means for atomizing and gasifying a mixture of air and oil prior to the point of combustion, such point being located within an elongated combustion chamber, the apparatus producing a result closely approaching perfect combustion of the mixture.

The apparatus involves the admixing of.

air andhydro-carbon under pressure and subjecting it to successive compression and expansion actions, the expansion immediately `following the greatest compression, preferably in the presence of heat, expansion taking place within a combustion chamber which permits rapid action.

The preliminary admixture f the air and hydro-carbon is preferably provided in advance of the compression step, in any of several ways, the preferred manner being by forming what may be considered a stream of the combined air and hydro-carbon and giving the stream a whirling action lto deliver the combined mixture to a screen baffle in a directionangular to the face of the baffle and to the baffle axis. The baffle being located at the entrance to the compression chamber, the direction of stream delivery relative to the baiie is such that the stream is ,directed at an angle against the baie, and the result is a breaking up and more complete admixture of the combined air and hydro-carbone, this admixture bea pressure-providing means such as a fan` blower 5 adapted to force the combination of the oil and air around the convolutions of thespirall. The exit end of the spiral is preferably located at the entrance to a compression chamber 7, the wall of which is preferably cone-shaped with an opening 8 at the lsmaller end of the chamber, the latter being formed somewhat similar to a truncated cone, this chamber being preferably located at the end 6 of the tube l. Tf desired, and I preferably employ the same, I may provide a screen bailie 10 at the'entrance to the compression chamber, the face of this baflie extending at right angles to the axis of the chamber 7, this baie being also located at the exit end of the spiral, the

result being that thev combined air and oil which 'is given a whirling action in being forced around the spiral convolutions is directed toward this screen bafie 10 in a direction angular both to the baie face and the baille axis; consequently, the stream of air and oil not only has its direction of flow changed from the spiral to one approaching the direction of the axis of the chamber 7, but this change is made through the bafe 10, the direction of flow toward'the baiiie tending to break up and atomize the stream and thus form a more intimate admixture of the combined air and oil immediately preceding its compression.

An enlarged, and preferably elongated combustion chamber 9 having a constant divbustion chamber is open at its forward end to permit of the passa e of the flame outwardly, the burning o the admixture taking place within the combustion chamber. This combustion has the e'ect of heating the walls of the chamber, and the intense heat, being at the point of expansion, causes a more rapid gasifying action, so that the gaseous product is in such a state as to provide for substantially perfect combustion, the flame resultant therefrom providing an intense heat upon its issuance from the combustion chamber. In this connection, the relative sizes. of the parts become of some importance, the diameter of the combustion chamber being preferably about double that of the tube l and about four or five times that of the restricted exit opening 8.

The general operation of the structure shown in the drawing appears obvious. The hydro-carbon entersthrough the inlet 2, preferablyv under a pressure suiiicient to cause it to be introduced into the tube in the rear of the fan which also draws in air through the inlet 3. The air takes up the hydro-carbon and the combination is forced into the spiral passage under the pressure provided by theA rotation of the fan, this pressure, after the fan has reached the desired speed, remaining constant and causing a constant supplyto the spiral passageway. After traversing this passageway within which there may be an atomizing e ect, due` tothe form of the spiral, the combined air and hydro-carbon passes. through the baffle 10 into the compression chamber 7 from which it is discharged through the restricted opening 8, into the combustion chamber 9. As will be understood, the compressed mixture, being under the pressure of the stream-like constant supply will be forced through-the opening at an increased vevlocity', which is immediately and suddenly reduced by the expansion which at once follows the discharge through the restricted opening. This action causes the combined elements to more nearly approach complete atomization and gasification, the obtaining of this result being aided by the heat of the combustion chamber, produ`cing an admixture which is highly inflammable. Asthis i state is reached in proximity to the opening 8, it will be readily understood that the combustion takes place practically entirelywithin the combustion chamber. .Furthermore, the usual reverberation is eliminated. 4

Itwill be obvious that, while I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention,

.various modifications thereof will be suggested to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. Such modifications and changes as may be required or desired in carrying out the principles of my invention are reserved, in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

. What I claim as new is:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a conduit, means for inducing a current of air and oil into said conduit and for positively causing themixture to pass along said conduit, a spiral in the path of travel of said mixture, and a screen baflie immediately adjacent the discharge end of said spiral, whereby the mixture may be forced around the convolutions of the spiral and delivered against the baffle at an angle to the axis thereof.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a conduit having a restricted exit, means' for inducing a current of air andoil into said conduit and for forcing it through said exit, a spiral extending longitudinally of said conduit and a' screen baffle immediately adjacent the discharge end of said spiral and in front of said exit, whereby the mixture is caused to pass around the convolutions of the spiral and delivered against the baffle at an angle to the axis thereof, prior to its passage through said exit.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a conduit provided with a conically shaped terminal having a restricted exit, an elongated cylindrical combustion chamber into which said terminal extends,

` a spiral in said conduit, a screen baiie immediately adjacent the discharge end of said spiral, and means for induclng a mix? CHARLES v. STUART.

Witnesses Roy STUART, B. E. Moses.' 

